Sofa bed having a frame tiltable under the weight of a user



T. L. BAILEY Oct. 11, 1960 SOFA BED HAVING A FRAME TILTABLE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A USER Filed Jan. 21, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. neoooee L. BAILEY 2,955,297 SOFA BED HAVING A FRAME TILTABLE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A USER Filed Jan. 21, 1958 T. L. BAILEY Oct. 11, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THEoDo a5. L.BIMLY m nH Oct. 11, 1960 T. L. BAILEY 2,955,297

SOFA BED HAVING A FRAME TILTABLE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A USER Filed Jan. 21, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTCR. Tuiocoal. L. BAI LEY A I'TOKZMEY-S Oct. 11, 1960 T. L. BAILEY 2,955,297

SOFA BED HAVING A FRAME TILTABLE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A USER Filed Jan. 21, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllllllll m .2" PH iQo .LLG

M q INVENTOR. q 'T'uaooaae LBNLEY ATTOQ N EYS 2,955,297 Patented Oct. 11, 1960 United States Patent SOFA BED HAVING A FRAME TILTABLE UNDER THE WEIGHT A USER Theodore L. Bailey, Theodore Bailey & Co., 112 Prado, Havana, Cuba The present invention rel-ates to a combination sofa and bed assembly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sofa bed assembly which lends itself to dual use as a sofa and as a bed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sofa bed assembly which when used as a sofa has an inclined seating surface which automatically shifts'to a horizontal position when the assembly is used as a bed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sofa bed assembly having a chest or receptacle as a part thereof for the storage of blankets and other bed coverings during the period when the assembly is used as a sofa, such chest or receptacle combining with a back rest for the support of the back of an individu when seated upon the assembly.

E A still further object of theprcsent invention is .to provide a sofa bed assembly which is normally disposed as a sofa along one wall of a room and which lends itself to ready shifting to a position out from the wall of the room as a bed and may be combined with. the bed of another assembly to form a double bed.

Yet'another object of the present invention is to pro vide a sofa bed assembly which is neat and attractive in appearance when in use as a sofa one sturdy in construction, one simple in structure, and one economically feasible.

.These and other objects and advantages of the present V invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a corner of the room with two of the sofa bed assemblies of the present invention installed therein, said assemblies being shown in full lines in positions in which they are fully retracted for use as sofas, in chain-dotted lines in partially extended positions in which they are moved outwardly for use as spaced, separated beds, and in dash-dotted lines in fully extended positions in which they provide side-by-side longituinally contacting beds;

Figure 2is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale,

taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, an auxiliary frame being shown in full and dotted lines in different positions to which it is rockable transversely;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the auxiliary frame in the upward movement position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the auxiliary frame in the depressed or downward movement position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on Figure 3; I I

Figure 6 is a sectional view looking upwardly along line 6-6 of Figure 3, the dash-dotted and chain-dotted lines showing the assembly in moved positions corre-, sponding to those similarly illustrated in Figure l;

. Figure 7 is a sectional view, onvan enlarged scale, taken onthe lineJ-7 of Figured;

the line 5-5 of Figure 8 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the assembly of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 99 of Figure 8; and

' Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an en-. larged scale, taken on the line 10-40 of Figure 3.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like partsthroughout the several views, in Figure 1 the reference numerals 12 and 14 designate the meeting walls of a room in a residence, hotel, motel, or. other building constructed as living quarters. The corner of the room bounded by the walls 12 and 14 is provided with an upstanding chest, table, dresser, or other article of furniture designated by the reference numeral 16 and including an upper portion which may be a television set, radio, cabinet, or the like, such portion being designated by the reference numeral 18. In Figure 2, the reference numeral 20 designates the surface of the floor of the room.

A back rest 22 is carried by a support 24 so that it is spaced above the floor surface 20 and fixedly projects outwardly from the vertical wall surfaces 12 and 14. As each of the assemblies of the present invention shown in Figure l are identical, they will be described with reference to the assembly contiguous to the wall 14.

The support 24 comprises a receptacle having a bottom 26, a rear wall 28 rising from the bottom 26, a front wall 30 rising from the bottom 26 and end walls 32, only one of which is shown in Figure 2, connecting the bottom 26 and the front and rear walls 30 and 28, respectively, together. A cover 34 extends over the upperends of the rear and front walls of the receptacle and is connectedby a hinge member 36 to the rear wall 28 for swinging movement from the covering position to an open position permitting the receptacle to be used for a storage place for blankets and the like. The support receptacle is secured to the Wall 14 by means of an angle member 38 extending along its lower end adjacent the wall 14, conventional screws or nails being used to secure the rear wall 28 and the angle member 38 to the wall 14. v

The sofa and bed assembly ofthe present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 40 and consists in a horizontally disposed mobile main bed frame 42 having a forward end and a rearward end and positioned, so that the portion adjacent the rearward end is beneath and spaced from the bottom 26 of the support receptacle and the portion adjacent the forward end projects beyond the back rest 22, as shown in Figure 2. The -main frame 42 comprises a rear frame member 44 and a front frame member 46, both const-ructed of angle iron as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 3, side frame members 48 and 50* are shown as parts of the main frame 42.

Normally, the main frame 42 is in longitudinal alignment with the receptacle or support 24.

An auxiliary frame 52 is provided and is arranged in a horizontal position and superimposed upon and in longitudinal alignment with respect to the main frame 42. The auxiliary frame 52 carries a bed spring and mattress assembly 54 shown in dotted lines. Normally, the top 3 portion of the mattress adjacent the rearward end of frame-,.member 46 of the main frame 42 for hinged movement abouta horinontal axis.

Means is also provided connecting the rear end piece 68 of the auxiliary frame 52 to the main frame 42 for movement from the horizontal position to a depressed position at an angle to the horizontal in which the top portion of the mattress in the bed spring and mattress assembly is below and spaced from the bottom 26 of the receptacle or support 24. This means is shown in Figures 3 and 4 and consists in a pair of spaced slide- Ways 66 and 68 each of U-shape and having one flange secured to the underface of the auxiliary frame rear end piece 60. The slideways 66 and 68 face forwardly and receive rollers 70 mounted on the free ends of a pair of levers 72.

Each lever 72 is mounted on a pin 74 which projects from one face of a depending plate 76 having its upper end secured to the main frame rear frame member 44. The lower end of each of the levers 72 is loosely connected for pivotal movement to a bar 78 fabricated of angle iron, inwardly of each end of the latter.

A pair of strap members 80 have their one ends fixedly secured to the underface of the rear end piece 60 of the auxiliary frame 52, as shown in Figure 7, and carry on their other ends inverted cups 82 in which are seated the upper ends of coil springs 84 which have their lower ends supported on brackets 86 which are carried on bars 88 extending from the rear frame member 44 to the front frame member 46 of the main frame 42. Cups 90 receive the lower ends of the springs 84 and are in turn secured to the respective brackets 86.

The coil springs 84 constitute spring means operatively connected to the rearward end of the auxiliary frame 52 for urging the rearward end of the auxiliary frame 52 to the horizontal position.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 7, a horizontally disposed trackway 92 is carried by the article of furniture 16 in such a position that it is on one side of and extends longitudinally along the side frame member 48 of the main frame 42. The trackway 92 is not necessarily attached to the article of furniture 16 but may be carried by the wall 14 with any suitable means of support. Means is provided connecting the main frame 42 to the trackway 92 for extensile and retractile movement of the main frame 42 along the trackway 9 2. Specifically, this means comprises a vertically extending roller or guide member 94 carried on the freeend of an arm 96 (Figure 8) which is connected to the underface of the main frame side frame member 48. The arm carries L-shaped bracket 108 which is carried by the main frame side frame member 48, as shown in Figure 3. The bar 106 is freely swingable from a tilted position shown in full lines in Figure 5 to a vertical position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. The bar 78 is provided with a slot as at 110 in Figure 5 into which the lower end portion of the bar 106 fits whenin the vertical position. Thislp'revents. longitudinal movement of the'bar 78 responsiveto thenormal. tilting movement of the levers 72 when the weight of an individual is applied to the rearward end portion of the bed spring and mattress assembly 40. A roller 112' is carried on the lower end portion of thebar I06 and is engaged by a. cam member 114 positionedexteriorly of and secured to the portion of the trackway 92 inwardly' ofthe end of the trackway 92 adjacent the wall 14. The engagement of the roller 112 on the cam member 114 is shown in Figure 5 in which position the bar 106 is moved out of the slot 110 in the bar 78, freeing the bar 78 for longitudinal movement to the position shown in Figure 4. This is the position of the bar 106 when the main frame 42 has been moved to the extent of its movement toward the wall 14. When the main frame 42 is extended,.the roller 112 moves off the cam member 114 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 5 and is engaged in the notch or slot 110 in the bar 78 preventing' the longitudinal movement of the bar 78 and thereby locking the mattress assembly in the upward position.

In order that the rearward end of the bed spring and mattress assembly move gradually to the downward position responsive to the weight of an individual sitting thereon, a dashpot 116 is provided mounted on the underside of the side frame member 50 and having its piston operatively connected to the free end of the bar 78 remote from the trackway 92. This construction is shown most clearly in Figure 10.

A spring 118 has one end connected to the bar 78 and the other end connected to the rear frame member 44.

a guide piece 98 at its point of connection to the frame as the chain-dotted line position in Figure 6) forwardly of the wall 14, the guide piece 98 leaves the trackway 92, and simultaneously the roller 102 reaches a point in the trackway 92 in registry with a cutout portion 104 in one side of the trackway 92. The main frame 42 may then be swung to its fully extended, dash-dotted line position with the roller 102 passing through the cutout portion 104 and the main frame 42 pivoting about the connection of the arm 96 with the side frame member The spring 118 biases the bar 78 to its position in which the bed spring and mattress assembly 40 is horizontal and the piston 120. of the dashpot 116 is away from the bleed hole 122 which is loosely covered by a washer 124. Upon the application of the weight of an individual to the rearward end of the bed spring and mattress as. sembly 40, if the main frame 42 and the attached auxiliary frame 52 is in its retractile position relative to the trackway 92, the springs 84 are compressed and the levers 72 pivot in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, moving the bar 78 so that the piston 120 compresses the air within the dashpot 116. This air escapes around the washer 124 and out of the bleed hole 122 resulting in a gentle lowering movement of the bed spring and mattress assembly 40. A stop 126 is carried by the plate 76 and limits the pivotal movement of the respective lever 72.

Upholstered end members 128 and 130 rise from the main frame side frame members 48 and 50, respectively,

. and serve to enhance the appearance of the sofa bed as- 48. This pivoted angular position is shown most clearly in full lines in Figure 9.

Cooperating releasable latch means is provided on the auxiliary frame 52 and on the trackway 9 2 for holding the auxiliary frame 52 against its downward movement when in the extensile movement position. Specifically, this means consists in a short length of bar 106 having its upper end pivotally mounted upon one leg of sembly of the present invention. U-shaped posts depend from the bars 88, as at 132 in- Figure 2, and carry on their lower ends caster wheels 134 for the support of the main frame on the floor surface 20.

Special means is provided for securing the bed in any position of its extended movement, such means comprising a foot 136 which is extensile through the end of the corner post carried by the main frame in response to manually applied pressure to a button 138 projecting out of the'other endof the post of the main frame. This stop mechanism is similar to a conventional door stop which is actuated bya users footand has conventional release means for releasing't-he engagementof the foot 136 from the floor surface 20 when desired.

asse

tions may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:,

, 1. The combination with a floor surface and a'vertical wall surface, a support positioned so that it is spaced above the floor surface and fixedly projecting outwardly from the vertical surface, and a back rest carried by said support, of a horizontally disposed mobile main bed frame positioned so that it is in longitudinal alignment with said support with the portion adjacent, the rear end beneath and spaced from said support and the portion adjacent the forward end projecting beyond the'support, a horizontally disposed auxiliary bed spring and mattress assembly carrying frame superimposed upon and in longitudinal alignment with respect to said main frame and having'the top portion of its mattress adjacent the rearward end below-and normally adjacent the underface of said support, means connecting the forward end of said auxiliary 4 frame to said main frame for hinged movement about a horizontal axis, and means connecting the rearward end of said auxiliary frame to said main frame for movement from the horizontal position to a depressed position at an angle to the horizontal in which the top portion of the mattress is below and spaced from said support, the hinged movement of said auxiliaryframe and the movement of said auxiliary frame from the horizontal to the depressed position being simultaneously operable responsive to the weight of an occupant when seated upon the mattress of said auxiliary frame with his back resting against said back rest, said last-named means including springs interposed between the main and auxiliary frames, levers connected between the frames for pivotal movement in response to travel of the auxiliary frame toward its depressed position, a dashpot adjacent the frames, and connections between the dashpot and levers operating the dashpot in response to pivoting of the levers to effect travel of the auxiliary frame toward its depressed position at a predetermined, retarded rate.

2. The combination with a floor surface and a vertical wall surface, a support positioned so that it is spaced above the floor surface and fixedly projecting outwardly from the vertical surface, and a back rest carried by said support, of a horizontally disposed mobile main bed frame positioned so that it is in longitudinal alignment with said support with the portion adjacent the rear end beneath and spaced from said support and the portion adjacent the forward end projecting beyond the support, a horizontally disposed auxiliary bed spring and mattress assembly carrying frame superimposed upon and in longitudinal alignment with respect to said main frame and having the top portion of its mattress adjacent the rearward end below and normally adjacent the underface of said support, means connecting the forward end of said auxiliary frame to said main frame for hinged movement about a horizontal axis, means connecting the rearward end of said auxiliary frame to said main frame for movement from the horizontal position to a depressed position at an angle to the horizontal in which the top portion of the mattress is below and spaced from said support, the hinged movement of said auxiliary frame and the movement of said auxiliary frame from the horizontal to the depressed position being simultaneously operable responsive to the weight of an occupant when seated upon the mattress of said auxiliary frame with his back resting against said back rest, spring means oper-atively connected to the rearward end of said auxiliary frame for urging the rearward end of said auxiliary frame to the horizontal position, and levers fulcrumed intermediate their ends on the main frame and having sliding, pivotal connections at one end to the auxiliary frame for pivoting of the levers in response to the travel of the auxiliary frame toward its depressed position, a dashpot adjacent the frames, and connections between the dashpot and the other ends of the lovers operating the dashpot in response to pivoting of the levers to effect travel of the auxiliary frame toward its depressed position at a predetermined, retarded rate.

3. The combination with a floor surface and a vertical wall surface, a receptacle including a bottom, a rear wall rising from the rear end of said bottom, and a front wall rising from the front end of said bottom, said receptacle being positioned so that the bottom is spaced above the floor surface and fixedly projects outwardly from the vertical surface, means fixedly securing said receptacle to the vertical wall surface, and a back rest carried by the front wall of said receptacle, of a horizontally disposed mobile main bed frame positioned so that it is in longitudinal alignment with said receptacle with the portion adjacent the rear end beneath and spaced from the bottom of said receptacle and a portion adjacent the forward end projecting beyond the receptacle back rest, a horizontally disposed auxiliary bed spring and mattress assembly carrying frame superimposed upon and'in longitudinal alignment with respect to said main frame and having the top portion of its mattress adjacent the rearward end below and normally adjacent the underface of said receptacle bottom, means connecting the forward end of said auxiliary frame to said'main frame for hinged movement about a horizontal axis, means connecting the rearward end of said auxiliary frame to said main frame for movement from the horizontal position to a depressed position at an angle to the horizontal in which the top portion of the mattress is below and spaced from said receptacle bottom, the hinged movement of said auxiliary frame and the movement of said auxiliary frame from the horizontal to the depressed position being simultaneously operable responsible to the weight of an occupant when seated upon the mattress of said auxiliary frame with his back resting against said back rest, a horizontally disposed trackway arranged on one side of and extending longitudinally along said main frame and carried by said vertical wall surface, means connecting said main frame to said trackway for extensile and retractile movement along said trackway, and cooperating releasable latch means on said auxiliary frame and said trackway for holding the auxiliary frame against its movement when in the extensile movement position.

4. Furniture of the class described comprising a main frame; an auxiliary frame pivoted on the main frame to swing between horizontal and transversely tilted positions; springs interposed between the frames biasing the auxiliary frame to its horizontal position, the springs being of a tension such that the weight of a user overcomes the force thereof to pivot the auxiliary frame to its tilted posi tion; levers connected between the frames for pivotal movement in response to travel of the auxiliary frame about its axis; a dashpot adjacent the frames; and connections between the dashpot and levers operating the dashpot in response to travel of the auxiliary frame from its horizontal toward its tilted position to retard the rate at which said travel toward the tilted position proceeds.

5. Furniture as in claim 4 wherein the levers are fulcrumed intermediate their ends upon the main frame, are slidably pivotally engaged at one end with the auxiliary frame, and are attached at their other ends to the connections that extend between the levers and dashpot.

6. Furniture as in claim 5 wherein the axes of the connections between the levers and main frame extend normally to the axis about which the auxiliary frame pivots.

7. Furniture as in claim 6 wherein said connections of the levers to the dashpot include an elongated bar supported from the main frame for longitudinal movement in a path paralleling said pivot axis of the auxiliary frame, said bar being pivotally joined to the levers, the dashpot including a piston secured to the bar and working in a path longitudinally aligned with that in which the bar travels.

8. Furniture of the class described comprising a' stationary trackway; a main frame alongside the trackway movable between a retracted and at least one extended position; an auxiliary frame pivoted on the main frame for, movement between a horizontal position and a transversely tilted position; springs interposed between the frames biasing the auxiliary frame toward its horizontal position, the springs being selected to yield when the weight of a user is imposed on the auxiliary frame for pivoting of the auxiliary frame to its tilted position responsive to the imposition of said weight thereon; latch means carried by the main frame in engagement with the trackway operable between a latching position limiting the auxiliary frame against movement from its horizontal toward its tilted position, and an unlatching'position freeing the auxiliary frame for said movement toward its tilted position; and means on the trackway operating the latch means to its unlatching position on shifting of the main frame to said retracted position, said last-named means freeing the latch means for movement to latching position on shifting of the main frame out of its retracted position toward said extended position thereof.

9. Furniture of the class described as in claim 8, further including a bar mounted upon the main frame for movement in response to travel of the auxiliary frame from its horizontal toward its tilted position, said latch means engaging the bar against movement in said latching position of the latch means, to restrain the auxiliary frame against said travel toward its tilted position.

10. Furniture of the class described as in claim 9, further including levers connected between the main frame, auxiliary frame, and bar for pivotal movement in response to said travel of the auxiliary frame toward its tilted position, said levers shifting said bar when pivoted whereby restraint of the bar by the latch means will .limit the levers against pivotal movement and thus impose said restraint upon the auxiliary frame.

11. Furniture of the class described as in claim 10,

wherein said'latch means comprises a latching bar pivotal ly depending from the main frame and swinging transversely of the first-named bar into the path of movement of the first-named bar in said latching position ofthe latch means.

12. Furniture of the class described as in claim- 11, wherein the first-named bar and the trackway extend normally to eachother, the movement of the first-named bar being in the direction of its length and the latch bar swinging about an axis paralleling said length of the firstnamed bar.

13. Furniture of the class described as in claim 12,

wherein the first-named bar has a transverse slot into which the latch bar swings in said latching position of the latch means to engage the first-named bar against movement.

14. Furniture of the class described as in claim 13,

wherein said means on the trackway that operates the latch means comprises a member mounted upon the trackway in the path of the latch bar and rocking the same, in the retracted position of the main frame, to a position clear of said slot so as to dispose the latch means in said unlatching position thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

